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Does Buckcherry ever rest? It seems like they have been on tour non stop since the first Cruefest tour in 2008. When the band announced the release date of their new album, I was pretty surprised how quickly this one came after the semi-disappointing Black Butterfly album.

Quite honestly, my expectations were kind of low for All Night Long. I heard that prior to the release that this album would be profanity free. Sure, you don’t really need all of the cursing in rock, but that has pretty much been Buckcherry’s style from the beginning. I don’t know if they were taking the advice of label executive, but they definitely cleaned up song writing for All Night Long. This style doesn’t really fit their bad boy image, which they have also seemingly toned down for this album. Even though All Night Long is clean, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t rock. It definitely has some rockin’ moments.

The first two songs deliver that one two punch to get things started. Chances are you have heard “All Night Long” several times by now. This is pretty cool tune, and how could you not love the cowbell to start things off. “It’s A Party” is another monster anthem that could be All Night Long‘s answer to “Crazy Bitch”. They lyrics are simple, and ridiculously catchy. I expected this song to explode once it is released as a single.

Buckcherry quickly slows it down for the song “These Things”. Every time I listen to this song, Shinedown comes to my mind. For whatever reason, this sounds more like one of their tunes, than Buckcherry’s. I don’t know what it is about this song, but I just can’t get into it.

“Recovery” reminds me a lot of “Broken Glass” from 15. No, the songs aren’t the same but they share the same heaviness and upbeat tempo. Both songs rock hard as a result.

Keith Nelson plays the slide guitar on “Liberty”, and give this song a southern rock edge to it. This was completely unexpected, and cool at the same time.

“Dead” might be the best closer of ANY Buckcherry album. This is easily the heaviest song on All Night Long, and in my opinion, the best. Don’t believe me? Listen to the guitar work from Keith Nelson, and Stevie D. on this one, and tell me otherwise. This song flat out rocks!

Overall, this feels more like a follow up to 15, than Black Butterfly did. Even though this is not as good as 15, All Night Long is good enough to put Buckcherry back on top. There are several songs that will definitely be hits for the band. If you purchase this CD at Best Buy, you will get a bonus disc with six acoustic songs. This bonus disc includes the song their previous album was named after, “Black Butterfly”.

If you haven’t picked up Armored Saint’s new CD, La Raza yet, you are totally missing out on one kick ass disc! Hopefully, the band’s new video, “Left Hook From Right Field” will set you in motion. Check it out below!

Right now the band is at the studio, recording the new album. The famous producer Waldemar Sorychta (Tiamat, Moonspell, Lacuna Coil, Sentenced) could be tapped for the recordings. According to the band, the album will be entitled “In War And Pieces” and will be released worldwide on November 22nd, 2010 by SPV / Steamhammer.

When I first posted the press release about JORN’s new CD Dio, my first thought was, why on earth is JORN trying to cash in on Ronnie James Dio’s death. I thought it was out of character for him, and wondered what was up with that. Then shortly thereafter a video was released, and I knew immediately that this CD was in the works long before Ronnie’s death. Jorn Lande quickly released his own statement and all was well. New visitor’s to Hard Rock Hideout might not be familiar with the powerhouse vocalist Jorn Lande, and if you aren’t, you really ought to take a chance and explore some of JORN’s previous releases. He is a criminally under rated, monster talent that has not gotten the exposure that he has deserved.

I have always described Lande’s voice as a combination of Ronnie James Dio, and David Coverdale. I found it very fitting that he did a tribute to the singer that influenced him so greatly. Very few people could cover the mighty voice of Ronnie James Dio, and Jorn Lande does it with a lot of passion and dignity on this new CD Dio.

The first time I heard “Song For Ronnie James” it put a tear in my eye. It really hit home for me that Dio has passed on. It is a very fitting tribute to RJD. I thought it was cool that the band picked some of the lesser known tunes from Dio and included them here. “Invisible” is a song off of the ultimate DIO album, Holy Diver. Quite honestly, I always thought this song got lost behind the monster tracks “Rainbow in the Dark” and “Stand Up and Shout”. JORN’s version of this song is totally kick ass. “Shame on the Night” is another song from Holy Diver. JORN’s version could easily be released as a single in 2010.

I honestly believe Tore Moren could give Vivian Campbell a run for his money on “Stand Up and Shout” and “Don’t Talk to Strangers”. His guitar work is flawless on these songs. I actually got goose bumps off of “Don’t Talk To Strangers”. What an awesome cover!

“Lord of the Last Day” had me scrambling to find my Magica CD from DIO. I didn’t remember this song being THIS good. The original is great, as is this version.

JORN didn’t just cover the Dream Evil classic “Night People”, they turned the tempo up a notch, and possibly made it even heavier, and added some new guitar licks while doing so. Do I dare say this is better than the original?

JORN ‘s cover of “Lonely is the Word/Letters From Earth” was originally on the JORN cover CD, Unlocking the Past. You get two killer Black Sabbath tunes in one on this version. I loved this first time I heard it, and I still do.

Overall, JORN’s Dio is an incredible collection of covers that pays respect to the legend that is Ronnie James Dio. In my opinion, “Song for Ronnie James” is worth the price of admission by itself, but the cover versions on this album are equally fantastic. If you are a fan of Ronnie James Dio, you need to get this!